Firing table



Feb. 23, 1937. a. M. MYERS 2,072,006

FIRING TABLE v 0 Filed Dec. 21, 1932 i3 2i 14 j '24 Z7 Z1 15 A) 3 v i 5 A 16' Guy M.

INVENTOR.

Myers AMA ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES FIRING TABLE Guy M. Myers, Washington, D. 0., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard Stoker Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1932, Serial No. 648,143

I 14 Claims.

This invention relates to stoker devices and particularly to locomotive stokers of the type wherein fuel is mechanically conveyed from the locomotive tender to a point in the firebox below the grate and is then elevated through a suitable conduit to a point above the fire where it is acted upon by jets of steam or other fluid which project and distribute the fuel evenly over thefire.

The main object of my invention is to provide a novel and useful form of a sectional firing table for stokers of the type described, over which the coal or other fuel passes as it leaves the stoker and is distributed over the fire.

In stokers of the type described, a portion of the firing table projects into the firebox such a distance as to subject it to a high degree of heat and this portion burns away much faster than other parts of the firing table that do not extend as great a distance into the firebox. It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a firing table in which that portion which is more subject to deterioration may readily be detached, removed and replaced by a new section thus obviating the necessity of replacing the entire firing table when a portion thereof has deteriorated to such an extent as to preclude its further use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sectional firing table which when assembled in place forms a compact, simple, efficient and economical unit, the parts composing the table being securely and firmly attached together. Numerous other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a portion of a locomotive with a stoker applied thereto and shown in elevation with parts broken away and a firing table assembled therewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the firing table with parts broken away showing its application to the stoker conduit;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the firing table with a portion broken away showing a modification of the means for securing the sections of the firing table together.

On the drawing, the locomotive is designated generally by the numeral I and is provided with a boiler firebox I I having a backwall or rear water leg I2 and the grates I3. The backwall I2 has a firing opening I4 therethrough above the cab deck I5. Fuel is conveyed from the locomotive tender (not shown) to the locomotive Ill through a conduit I6 which houses a portion of the screw conveyor system H. A conduit I8 is universally connected to the forward end of the conduit I6 and terminates in an upwardly curving elbow I9 which merges into the straight tubular conduit (Cl. l10101) or riser conduit 20. The straight tubular conduit terminates in a D-shaped mouth 2I or fuel delivery opening above the level of the fire in the firebox II.

Partially surrounding the straight tubular conduit 20 is a protecting grate 22 shielding the conduit 20 from the direct heat of the fire in the firebox II. Surmounting and lightly fitting the conduit 20 and resting at its inner edge on lugs 23 projecting from the outer face of the conduit 20, is a metal plate or firing table 24. The top of the table 24 is smooth and preferably flat, as illustrated, and is in substantially the same plane with the upper marginal edge of the mouth portion 2i, permitting fuel to pass freely thereover.

The outer marginal edge of the top 25 of the table 24 is substantially U-shaped and the inner marginal edge conforms substantially to the shape of the outer edge. The open end of the U is restricted by the inwardly extending portions 21. A flange 28 depends from the underside of the table 24 between its outer and inner marginal edges. The table 24 is composed of the three sections 29, and 3|, the section 29 forming the forepart of the table 24 and the sections 30 and 3! forming the rear part of the table 24. The sections 30 and 3I are preferably formed symmetrically, though, it will be obvious that they need not necessarily be so.

The adjacent ends of the front and rear sections of the firing table are provided with interfitting shoulders and recesses or notches and counterpart projections. The opposite ends of the front section 29 are recessed or notched at their inner edges, as at 32 and 33, forming at their outer edges the shoulders or projections 34 and 35, respectively. The ends of the rear sections 30 and 3| adjacent the ends of the front section 29 are recessed or notched as at 36 and 31, respectively, to receive the shoulders or counterpart projections 34 and 35, and are provided with the shoulders or projections 38 and 39 arranged to be received in the recesses or notches 32 and 33.

The shoulders 38 and 39 of the rear sections 30 and 3| have openings 40 and 4| extending transversely therethrough, and the shoulders 34 and of the front section 29 are provided with the cavities 42 and 43 registering with the openings and M respectively when the rear and front sections of the firing table are assembled. The sections 29, 30 and 3| of the firing table are held in assembled-relation by means of the pins 44 and 45 which are inserted through the openings 40 and M and extend into the cavities 42 and 43.

The sections 29, 30 and 3I when assembled are seated on the conduit 20 by engagement of the lugs 23 with that portion of the underside of the table 24 between the depending flange 28 and the inner marginal edge of the table top 25. The flange 28 fits over the lugs 23. The sections 30 and 3| are provided with the openings 46 arranged to receive bolts for securely attaching the sections to the conduit 20. The pins 44 and 45 are held in place by the walls of the conduit 20, so that when the firing table is assembled and bolted to the conduit 20, the sections of the table are securely locked together.

The table 24 is supported a slight distance above the top of the grate 22, providing a space as shown at 48 to compensate for relative movement between the parts due to the extreme variations in temperature causing uneven contraction or expansion of the various parts.

The sections 30 and 3| of the firing table may be cored as at 49 in order to reduce the weight of the table and to reduce the cost of construction. The section 29 since it extends farther into the firebox and consequently subject to more rapid deterioration, is preferably of solid metal.

A recess 50 is formed in the wall of the conduit 20 adjacent its mouth 2| and is arranged to receive a pressure fluid jet distributor M. The distributor comprises a distributor head 52 arranged to receive steam or other fluid under pressure through the pipes 54 and having a plurality of jet openings 53 through which the fluid under pressure is discharged.

In Figure 4 is shown a slightly modified form of construction wherein the shoulder or projection 55 of the rear section 56 of the firing table 5? is provided with an outwardly extending lug 58 arranged to be received in the cavity or recess 59 formed in the shoulder or projection 60 of the front section of the firing table 51. The lug 58 tapers slightly towards its free end permitting assembling of the parts of the firing table in a simple and convenient manner. The lug 58 serves the same purpose as the pins 44 and Q5 and constitutes an alternative form of construction. Only so much of the firing table as is necessary to show the modified interfitting arrangement of the adjacent ends of the sections of the firing table has been illustrated in the drawing.

The firing table, in stokers of the type described, since it is wholly within the firebox is necessarily subjected to an intense heat and in time deteriorates to such an extent as to require replacement. In the present arrangement there is provided a three piece firing table, which when assembled is rigidly secured in place without the necessity of using added fastening means, and one part may be replaced as deterioration occurs without the expense of replacing the entire firing table. Throughout the specification and claims the terms "front and forward, rear and rearward as applied to the sections of the firing table are used relative to the direction in which fuel passes thereover.

I claim:

1. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminatingjin a fuel delivery opening, a firing table embracing the upper end of said upwardly extending portion and partially surrounding said fuel delivery opening, said firing table including a substantially U- shaped forward section and a rearward section contacting each end of said U-shaped section, said sections at each of their contacting end portions having recesses and shoulders formed therewith arranged to permit interfitting of said sections and means associated with each pair of the contacting end portions of said sections for seaoragooe curing said sections together comprising pin means extending into the shoulders at each pair of the contacting end portions of said sections.

2. A U-shaped firing table formed in a plurality of sections, the curved portion of said U- shaped table forming one section and the straight portions of the U-shaped table forming the other sections, the opposite ends of said curved section each having a recess and a shoulder formed therewith and each of said straight sections having formed at its end adjacent a respective end of said curved section a recess and a shoulder arranged to interfit with the recess and shoulder of said curved section, and pin means associated with said shoulders for securing the sections of said table together.

3. A U-shaped firing table formed in a pinrality of sections, the curved portion of said U- shaped table forming one section and the straight portions of the U-shaped table forming the other sections, the opposite ends of said curved section each having a recess and a shoulder formed therewith and each of said straight sections having formed at its end adjacent a respective end of said curved section a recess and a shoulder, one shoulder at each of the adjacent ends of a straight section and the curved section having a lug formed therewith and the other shoulder at each of the adjacent ends of a straight section and the curved section having a recess arranged to receive said lug for securing the sections of said table together.

4. As an article of manufacture, a section of a sectional firing table for stokers, said section having a fiat top face and being substantially spandrel shaped in section parallel to said top face, an end face of said section having a shoulder formed thereon and an opening extending transversely through said shoulder beneath the plane of the top face of said section.

5. As an article of manufacture, a section of a sectional firing table for stokers, said section having a fiat top face and being substantially spandrel shaped in section parallel to said top face, an end face of, said section having a shoulder formed thereon and a ing formed with and extending laterally from said shoulder beneath the plane of the top face of Said section, said lug tapering towards its free end.

6. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, a firing table embracing the upper end of said upwardly extending portion and partially surrounding said fuel delivery opening, said firing table including a substantially U-shaped forward section and a rearward section contacting each end of said U-shaped section, each pair of contacting ends being arranged to interfit one another, and means associated with each pair .of interfitted ends for securing said sections together.

'7. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, afiring table embracing the upper end of said upwardly extending portion and partially surrounding said fuel delivery opening, said firing table including a substantially U-shaped forward section and a rearward section contacting each end of said U-shaped section, each of the contacting end faces of said forward and rearward sections having a recess arranged to receive the shoulder left by the recess in a respective adjacent end face, the surfaces fitting snugly together, and means associated with each pair of contacting ends for securing said sections together.

8. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, a firing table embracing the upper end of said upwardly extending portion and partially surrounding said fuel delivery opening, said firing table including a substantially U- shaped forward section and a rearward section contacting each end of said U-shaped section, each of the contacting end faces of said forward and rearward sections having a notch arranged to receive the projection left by the notch in a respective adjacent end face, the surfaces fitting snugly together, one projection of each pair of contacting end faces having a recess therein, the other projection of each pair of contacting end faces having a lug arranged to fit in a respective recess.

9. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, a firing table embracing the upper end of said upwardly extending portion and partially surrounding said fuel delivery opening, said firing table including a substantially U- shaped forward section and a rearward section contacting each end of said U-shaped section, each of the contacting end faces of said forward and rearward sections having a notch arranged to receive the projection left by the notch in a respective adjacent end face, the surfaces fitting snugly together, one projectionof each pair of contacting end faces having a recess therein, the other projection of each pair of contacting end faces having a lug arranged to fit in. a respective recess, and means for securing said rearward sections to said upwardly extending conduit portion thereby securing said forward section against movement.

10. As an article of manufacture, a forward section of a firing table for stokers, said section having a fiat top surface and being substantially U-shapecl in section parallel to said top surface, said section being provided with a recess in the inner side of. each of its end portions leaving a shoulder at each end portion, each of said shoulders being provided between its top and bottom surface with an inwardly opening cavity.

11. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, a firing table embracing the upper end of said upwardly extending portion, said firing table comprising a substantially U- shaped forward portion and a rearward portion in contacting end to end relation, the contacting end faces of said forward and rearward portions each having a recess arranged to receive the shoulder left by the recess in a respective adjacent end face, and means associated with said contacting ends for securing said portions together.

12. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, ledge-like means extending outwardly from said upwardly extending conduit portion subjacent the delivery end thereof, a firing table having a flat top face, said table being seated on said ledge-like means and fitting closely against the delivery end of said upwardly extending conduit portion, said firing table comprising a substantially U-shaped forward portion and a rearward portion in contacting end to end relation, the adjacent ends of said portions being arranged to interfit one another and to prevent upward displacement of said U-shaped portion with respect to said rearward portion and relative longitudinal movement between said portions, and means for rigidly securing said rearward portion to said upwardly extending conduit portion for securing said U-shaped portion against movement with respect to said conduit portion.

13. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly-extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, ledge-like means extending outwardly from said upwardly extending conduit portion subjacent the delivery end thereof, a firing table having a fiat top face, said table being seated on said ledge-like means and fitting closely against the delivery end of said upwardly extending conduit portion, said firing table comprising a substantially U-shaped forward portion and a rearward portion in contacting end to end relation, the adjacent end faces of said Ushaped portion and rearward portion each having a notch arranged to receive the projection left by the notch in a respective adjacent end face, one projection of said adjacent end faces having a recess therein and the other projection of said adjacent end faces having a lug arranged to fit in said recess for preventing relative longitudinal movement between said portions and for preventing upward displacement of said U-shaped portion with respect to said rearward portion, and means for rigidly securing said rearward portion to said upwardly extending conduit portion for securing said U-shaped portion against movement with respect to said conduit portion.

14. In combination with a firebox, a conduit for delivering fuel to said firebox comprising an upwardly extending portion terminating in a fuel delivery opening, ledge-like means extending outwardly from said upwardly extending conduit portion subjacent the delivery end thereof, a firing table having a fiat top face, said table being seated on said ledge-like means and fitting closely against the delivery end of said upwardly extending conduit portion, said firing table comprising a substantially U-shaped forward portion and a rearward portion in contacting end to end relation, the adjacent end faces of said U-shaped portion and rearward portion each having a notch arranged to receive the projection left by the notch in a respective adjacent end face, pin means extending into the projections of said adjacent end faces for preventing relative longitudinal movement between said portions and for preventing upward displacement of said U- shaped portion with respect to said rearward portion, and means for rigidly securing said rearward portion to said upwardly extending conduit portion for securing said U-shaped portion against movement with respect to said conduit portion. GUY M. MYERS. 

